Man Allegedly Traded Cigarettes for Sex

He gave them to a 16-year-old as incentive.

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A 40-year-old Midland, Texas, man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly trading cigarettes for sexual relations with a 16-year-old female.

Thomas Fricke was being held Thursday on a $100,000 bond for the second-degree felony charge of sexual assault.

Midland police responded late Monday to a sexual assault complaint by a family member of the alleged victim, according to his arrest affidavit. The family member told police the girl had consensual sex with Fricke — the father of a friend — in his pickup outside of a convenience station in southwest Midland.

The girl estimated having sexual relations with Fricke — who would provide her with cigarettes as an incentive — at least 15 times, according to the affidavit.

Fricke allegedly sent the girl text messages that made references about the sexual relations and "her possibly being pregnant by him," the affidavit states.

If convicted of the second-degree felony, Fricke faces up to 20 years in prison.